Hunt is on for Britain's oldest "pet pensioner"
10/08/2007
We've all heard the saying that life begins at 40, and the same seems to be true for our beloved pets - in pet years, anyway - says leading veterinary charity, PDSA Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine and pet healthcare, more pets than ever before are living to a ripe old age creating a burgeoning society of pet pensioners, or Old Age Pets.
PDSA data shows that one in ten cats and dogs treated by PDSA vets are aged between 11 and 14 years, suggesting that our pets are living life to the full!
To help build an even bigger pawprint of the UK's ageing pet population, PDSA has launched an online pet pensioners survey to find the oldest surviving pet. So, if your senior pet is still going strong, complete the online questionnaire at the website linked below.
Last year the oldest animals found by PDSA were a 20-year-old Jack Russell dog from the North East and a 21-year-old cat from Northern Ireland, both of which had an equivalent human age of around 90 years.
But the charity believes that the UK is home to even older pets as PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, explains: The oldest pet I have ever treated was a 26-year-old Springer Spaniel! In human years this made him over 110 years old which is pretty exceptional.
A cat or dog that was once your childhood chum, can very often be a friend well into adulthood making them a huge part of peoples lives.
So what is the ideal formula for a pets longevity? "The right balance of veterinary care, diet and exercise is vital," says Elaine. "Today more than ever before there is plenty of pet care information and advice available to pet owners at the touch of a button, and this combined with continued advances in veterinary treatment means that our pets have a real chance of living life to the full well into their retirement.
"Aside from these important factors, plenty of love and affection are also a vital factor in ensuring your pet has a long and happy life," Elaine adds.
As a key component of PDSA's mission to promote responsible pet ownership, the OAP survey will not only look to map the UK's ageing pet population, but will also measure how pet owners have responded to pet health care messages, such as the importance of vaccination, neutering, diet and exercise.